Rep. Michaelson Jenet Honored for Mental Health Efforts

(Aug. 1) – Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, was recently honored by two leading mental health advocacy groups for her efforts to expand access to care and treatment for Coloradans.

Rep. Michaelson Jenet recently received the inaugural “Friend of Psychology” award from the Colorado Psychological Association in recognition of her bill entering Colorado into the Psychologists Interstate Compact (HB18-1017). This important telehealth bill makes Colorado the fourth state in the country to join the Psychologists Interstate Compact, allows for interstate delivery of mental health counseling and makes psychological services far more available to rural Coloradans. The Association also recognized Rep. Michaelson Jenet for her broader work in the mental health field.

The Commerce City Democrat was also recognized at Mental Health America’s annual meeting for championing a bill to create an ombuds office to connect Coloradans with mental health resources and help people who feel they have nowhere to turn when they are denied care or put on waiting lists. The bill also requires insurers to document and disclose their efforts to comply with mental health parity and network adequacy laws. HB18-1357 was signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper this May.

“I am honored to be recognized by Colorado Psychological Association and Mental Health America – two vital organizations on the front lines of advancing mental health issues,” Rep. Michaelson Jenet said. “I will continue working at the legislature and in our community to help expand access to mental health treatment and to end the stigma that too often prevents our friends, family and colleagues from seeking the care they need.”

Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s op-ed on suicide prevention efforts at the Colorado legislature was recently published in the Denver Post. Read the full piece HERE.